The ‘Athens Declaration,’ Greece and Turkey

[Dimitris Papamitsos/Office of the Greek Prime Minister/via InTime News]

“May Allah destruct Zionist Israel,” declared Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was successful “Zionist Israel.” Erdogan had not addressed Israel for rather some time, and his statement seemed to indirectly target Greece arsenic well, fixed its steady efforts to strengthen ties with Israel. His vexation is understandable, arsenic helium is well alert that US President Donald Trump views Israel’s information arsenic 1 of the top priorities of American overseas policy. Consequently, Erdogan sees Greece’s adjacent practice with Israel arsenic extending to its narration with the United States – two countries with which Turkey has ongoing disputes successful the Aegean and Syria.

At the aforesaid time, it is evident that Greece does not clasp the aforesaid geopolitical weight arsenic Israel, making their narration inherently asymmetrical. Bridging this spread will take time, but ultimately, the contented is governmental and comes down to however Athens envisions the triangular narration betwixt Greece, Israel and Turkey. How acold is Greece’s governmental enactment willing to take its concern with Israel? What are the ultimate limits of this cooperation? More specifically, if this confederation demands it, would Greece beryllium willing to revoke the “Athens Declaration,” the cornerstone of its caller attack to Greek-Turkish relations?

In the end, each alliances are tested successful practice. The cardinal is to found wide objectives and well-defined boundaries to forestall inconsistencies, misunderstandings and setbacks. Does Greece truly cognize what it wants from Israel? If its actions are reactive and fragmented – lacking a strategic model that accounts for some Greek-Turkish and Israeli-Turkish relations – it risks being doubly exposed when faced with existent challenges. Temporary alignments of involvement tin pb to dormant ends, arsenic shifting circumstances inevitably reshape priorities. Strategic partnerships necessitate much than shared interests; they request governmental will. After all, when seeking support, 1 indispensable besides beryllium prepared to connection it successful return. Reciprocity is cardinal to credibility successful such matters.

Perhaps this is an accidental to displacement Greek-Turkish disputes beyond the constrictive confines of the Aegean – where Greece has small to summation – and into the broader Eastern Mediterranean, a portion where different cardinal players, including two of the astir powerful, Egypt and Israel, are aligned with Greek interests.

Israel stands beside us. But bash we truly cognize however adjacent we stand to Israel?